COVID-19 Response Update – He Pānui

Kia hiwa rā ki tēnei tuku, kia hiwa rā ki tēnā tuku, kia hiwa rā tātou katoa i tēnei te hokinga atu ki ngā Pae Mataara, kia mataara!

Tēnā tātou katoa,

Last night, the Prime Minister and Director General of Health addressed the nation about the new positive cases of COVID-19 in the community that have been identified in Tāmaki Makaurau. As of now, no known link has been identified between the cases and the Managed Isolation and Quarantine facilities.

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The Auckland region (see attached) moved to Alert Level 3 at midday today and will stay there for three days until midnight on Friday 14 August. The rest of Aotearoa moved to Alert Level 2 at midday and will stay there for the same period.  

I want to reassure you our resurgence plan is robust and designed to help keep you and your whānau safe. We’ve done this before, and we can do this again if we do it together – mā tātou katoa e ārai atu te mate nei.

Heoi anā, here’s what last night’s announcement means for you and your whânau:

For our whānau living in Tāmaki Makaurau

o        Auckland moved to Alert Level 3 at midday today.
o        Travel in and out of Auckland is restricted to essential travel only, with roadblocks in place.
o        You must work from home unless you are an essential worker.
o        All schools and childcare facilities will be closed except for children of essential service workers.
o        All public facilities, bars, restaurants and businesses should close.
o        Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed but only for wedding services, funerals, and tangihanga. Physical distancing and public health measures must be maintained.
o        Supermarkets, pharmacies, and petrol stations remain open – shop as normal. Food delivery will be available.
o        Keep a 2-metre physical distance and wear a mask when in public when you can’t distance yourself from others.
o        Stay home if you’re māuiui, wash your hands, cough or sneeze into your elbow, clean surfaces.
o        Contact tracing is essential to stopping the spread. Use the COVID Tracer app if you can or make a note.
o        If you have cold or flu like symptoms call your GP or Healthline to book a free COVID-19 test and get tested if asked.
o        The four community testing centres in Northcote, Grafton, Henderson, and Wiri will be operating with more staff and extra hours. The testing centres in Auckland, Waitematā, and Counties Manukau are all prepared for receiving more people.
o        The three DHBs in Auckland are planning pop-up clinics over coming days and they will publicise the locations and hours of these clinics.

For our whânau living outside of Tâmaki Makaurau

o        The rest of the country moved to Alert Level 2 at midday today.
o        Travel in and out of Tāmaki is restricted to essential travel only. If you are an Aucklander, you can travel to Auckland to return home.
o        Please shop normally – there is ample supply of kai and other goods.
o        All businesses outside Auckland are open with social distancing in place.
o        Hospitality businesses must keep groups of customers separated, seated and served by a single person.
o        Keep physical distancing of 2 metres from people you don’t know when out in public. Keep 1 metre physical distancing in controlled environments like workplaces, where practical.
o        Stay home if you’re māuiui, wash your hands, cough or sneeze into your elbow, clean surfaces frequently.
o        If you are sick call your GP or Healthline to book a free COVID-19 test and get tested if asked.
o        Contact tracing is essential to stopping the spread. Use the COVID Tracer app if you can or make a note.
o        No more than 100 people at gatherings, including weddings, birthdays, funerals, and tangihanga.
o        Maximum of 100 people at a time in a defined space.
o        Sport and recreation activities are allowed, subject to conditions on gatherings, record keeping, and physical distancing where practical.
o        The latest information can be found on our website and Facebook or the Unite Against COVID website and social media channels.
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Heoi anō, these are temporary measures that have been put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 and will apply for the next three days while information is gathered and contact tracing and testing is underway. This situation is fast-moving e hoa mâ, further updates will follow.

Please can you help:

1. Ensure your provider networks know about these COVID-19 updates.
2. Share information with your local networks to ensure our whânau know the updated advice and how to keep themselves safe.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or my team at: maorihealth@health.govt.nz

Mā te Atua koutou e manaaki hei ngā rangi e tū mai nei,  

Nāhaku me aku mihi aroha,


John Whaanga
Deputy Director-General | Māori Health Directorate

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